I am afraid, in the five months he was prime minister of Greece, Lucas Papademos learned very quickly the lesson of local politics: spreading fear, triggering turbulence. On Wednesday, European stocks dropped at the opening, after Papademos said to Wall Street Journal on Tuesday that ” preparations for an exit from the euro zone are being considered.” Later he clarified his comments with an interview to CNBC. But the damage was done.

In his interview to CNBC, Papademos said that there are no preparations underway in Greece for a possible euro exit. However, he added that he “cannot exclude the possibility” that countries are making preparations due to increased fear of such an event.

“At the same time, news reports quoted former Greece Prime Minister Lucas Papademos as saying that preparations for the country’s exit from the euro zone are being considered.

Papademos said such a move was unlikely to materialize but the risk is real.” (CNBC)

As a euro exit can be initiated only by Greece, Papademos may explain to us who and why is making such preparations…. As a former banker, he must have his connections and gather some information on the issue, right?

Former Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos says there are no preparations underway in Greece for possibly exiting the Euro.

In a brief conversation with CNBC, he also said he is not aware of any specific preparations in European institutions or other European countries.

However, he “cannot exclude the possibility” that countries are making preparations due to increased fear of such an event, driven by the country`s inconclusive elections in early May. Papademos still believes greece leaving the euro is an event “unlikely to materialize,” and also called it an “unwanted scenario.”

The euro fell sharply in late US trading and the stocks dropped sharply from their highs when some brief headlines crossed the wires, leading to confusion about whether Greece was making contingency plans for a Euro exit.

Papademos spoke to CNBC after the market closed, past 1am Athens time to elaborate on the headlines. Papademos was prime minister until just a few weeks ago, and helped lead the country through the largest debt restructuring in history and helped implement a new bailout agreement for the country.

A former central banker, Papademos told CNBC that “pressure on the banks has eased” in recent days. There were and still are fears in the market that their might be runs on banks if Greek citizens believe a euro exit is coming. But Papademos suggested deposit out-flows had slowed.

3 Comments so far:

“Lucas Papademos leanred very quickly the lesson of local politics”
He isn’t running for office and he isn’t member of any party (or is he?). So, I think it’s more reasonable to conclude that he simply told his honest opinion. But I guess Greek voters aren’t accustomed to this at all, so this departure from the typical MO of Greek politicians mekes them instinctly search for hidden motives…

hm…. past experience has tought us to be suspicious on politicians statements on certain topics and occasions. For example, I still do not understand why Papoulias, papademos make statements that push Greeks to take their money out form the banks. any logical explanation?